Improved keel and bilge-block



@uitrit gis-trs gsttrnt @fittizi JOSEPH T; PARLOUR, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM BEARD.

Letlei's Patent No. 73,376, elated January 14, 1868.

IMPROVBD KBEL AND BILGE-BLOOK.

TO ALL WHOM IT' MAY CONGERN:

Be it known k.that I, JOSEPH kT. PARLOUR, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blocks or Supports for the Keel and Bilge to Vessels in Doek and I do'hereby declare that the' following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whichrwill enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, referencevbein'g had `to the'accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whchf* Figure 1 is a side elevation or view of a block, constructed accordingto the present invention, adapted for supporting the keel.

Figure 2 is.a side elevation or view of another block, showing it as adapted for supporting a vessel upon its bilge. l

The present invention more particularly relates to a block for supporting a vessel by its keel or bilge when laid up in a dock for repairs, which block is Ainade in parts or sections for adjustment,either in a higher or lower plane, as may be desired; and this invention consists, rst, in a novel connection between ,the .several parts to the block, and with the windlass for operating the same, whereby'the parts can be simultaneously moved,

and from one voperating-point, in the proper directions; second, in an attaehmentvto the parts of the block of'a,

supporting-pawl `and rack in such amanuer as to fasten or secure the block in any position to which fit may be adjusted or brought.

A, in the drawings, represents a block adapted for supporting a'vessel through its keel. This .block A ismade in three sections, in parts B, C, and D, with the two lower parte, B and C, of a wedge' shape, but with the inclination only in'one face, by which faces'they arearranged to move, the one upon the other, being' pro'perly constructed with `raised ribs for guiding and steadying them in their movement. lThe other, D, to the block, is placed upon the upper face of the upper section of the two sections B and'C'v, and' as suchlblock is-moved in and out under the same, is raised or'lowered in a vertical plane, moving by the downward-'projecting arms E to its sides, in fixed standards F of the bottom of the doch, which standards are suitably grooved to receive them, and to' guide said part D up and down in one and the same vertical plane, whatever may be the relative position of the under parte, B and C. G, a chain, fastened to the parts B and C of the block, at'their end H,

from which it extends around a-pulley, I, in block or standard J, secured inthe bottoni of doelt.'- chain,

secured at. one end to the end of the upper sliding part, C, to the bloekA, from which it'passes around aal-pulley, L, and from thence .up around a windlass-wheel, M, that'is supposed :to belocated 'at .the-'top of the dock, and from thence down along the side of the dock, to and around a pulley, N, hung "thereonrtofthe end of thelower sliding part, B, tothe block, .-whereon, byits end P, it is hung. i' Q, la ratchet-wheel, onone face of the windlusswheel M, and R a pawl hung in a position to engage with such ratehet,'land thus toholdthe'windlasswheel stationary. vBy the turning of the windlass-wheel to the right or left',the'sl.iding parts to the block will be moved either in a direction out or in, as it were, raising or lowering part of the block resting therein, `as the case may be, the two sliding parts being moved in conjunctionwith each other' by and through the chains con* necting the same, as described. T, a ratchet-bar, fixed to theupper side of lower section o r partjB of the block, and U a pawlhung to the part above, that, Aby being engaged therewith', secures thel two parts. in any position to which they may be brought bythe operation of the chain-connections. V, a block, adapted for supporting a. vessel about the bilge, or, in other words, to the side ofV the-keel. This block V is formed ofv a part, W, lthat is arranged ,to slide forward and backward upon a guide-piece, X, fixed tothe bottom of the doek, and for so moving, it is provided with a chain, Y, that at one end is attached to one end ofthe part W to the block V, and at` the other is fixed to the opposite end of the said part, passing ,between these points, over pulleys andal wiudlass-wheel, in a similar manner heeinabovedescribed for the operating-chain to the keel-block; The upper edge orface to the partW isinclined from one end to the other, andv to theilower'end of such inclinedface a .beda piece or strip, Z, is hinged, that extends over the face of the part, and projects therefrom in the same general inclination at theend where hinged. i This bed-picco or strip Z is provided with ratchetteeth, as shown, and on 1t is arranged, to slide or move, a wedge-shaped block, A2, that, by means of a pawl, B2, hungto it, is stopped orheld in itsposit-ionjby engaging such pawl with the proper tooth of the ratchet bed-piece. C, a line, hung to one end of a slide-block, Az, from which, passing around a pulley-wheel, D, -impart W', to block, from thence passes through a pulley, E2, secured in the side of the dock, up to the top of the doek. By this line theb'lock Az is slidden forward and backward upon the bed-piece or strip Z. E, the Ablock which is to come in direct '.*contact with and against the blge part of the vessel. This block E4 is placed uponfthe top ofthe wedge-block A, and by its side arms Eit is guided up and down in a vertical plane, by and through the guides, to the lower part W. This block E4, at its end F2, is made o f suitable form to fit againsttheside' orblge of the vggel, wherein, by properly operating the chains and line, it can be brought to bear, by boing moved toward the same,

' either horizontallyor vertieally, or both.

y By the eonstruetion of the blocks above desoribed, and the ehainand line connections for operating their several parts, it is plainly 'manifest that the blocks can be adjusted as desired from ytlxe'top of the dock,l thuis obviating all necessity of pumping out the dock.

Irclaim as new, and desire to secure by iietterslatent-- 1. The combination, with the blocks B C D and side pieces EF, of the chains G K, pulleys I L, ratchetwheel Q,'and pawl R, alT constructed, arranged, and operatingsubstantially as described.

y 2. The side strips to the supporting or cappiece of a bilge or keebblock, substantially as and for the purl pose specified. 'a v The above'speciication of my invention signed by me, this day of October, 186 7.

- y JOSEPH T. PARLOUB. Witnesses i ALBERT W. Bnow'N, FREDERIC A. Sums. 

